Poem Analysis - In Search Of Cinderella

An Ironic Quest for Perfection

Shel Silverstein's "In Search Of Cinderella" presents a humorous and somewhat cynical take on the classic fairy tale. The poem's tone is initially hopeful and romantic, mirroring the familiar narrative of a prince searching for his lost love. However, this quickly shifts to frustration and even aversion as the speaker's relentless search proves fruitless. Ultimately, the poem satirizes the idealized pursuit of perfection and the potential for obsession to sour even the most cherished desires.

The Love-Hate Relationship with the Ideal

One of the poem's central themes is the corrosive effect of unattainable ideals. The speaker's love for Cinderella, or rather, the image of her represented by the "tender, slender foot," is initially the driving force behind his quest. However, the repetition of "From dusk to dawn" highlights the monotonous and exhausting nature of the search. This repetition, combined with the declaration, "I've started hating feet," reveals how the relentless pursuit of an ideal can transform love into resentment. The poem suggests that clinging too tightly to an idealized image can ultimately destroy the very thing one initially cherished. The fairytale has become the source of his distate.

Obsession and the Loss of Perspective

The theme of obsessive behavior is closely intertwined with the frustration of the poem. The speaker is so focused on finding the "tender, slender foot" that he loses sight of the bigger picture. The phrase "Without a single clue" implies a lack of direction and a reliance on a superficial characteristic (the foot) rather than any genuine connection. He is going town to town simply forcing a shoe onto women. This obsession blinds him to other qualities and possibilities, suggesting that a narrow focus can lead to a distorted perception of reality and, more importantly, prevents him from experiencing genuine human connection.

The Symbolic Weight of the Foot

The "crystal shoe" and the "tender, slender foot" serve as powerful symbols of idealized beauty and perfection. In the original Cinderella story, the shoe is a unique identifier, a magical marker that sets Cinderella apart. However, in Silverstein's poem, the shoe becomes a tool of oppression and frustration. The emphasis on the foot’s physical characteristics suggests a superficial understanding of love and identity. It highlights the absurdity of reducing a person to a single, idealized feature. The foot, initially a symbol of hope, transforms into a symbol of the speaker's own misguided pursuit and growing disenchantment, showing how focusing on superficial traits can diminish the pursuit of genuine love.

Final Reflections: The Bitter Irony of the Fairy Tale

"In Search Of Cinderella" offers a cynical yet insightful commentary on the nature of love, obsession, and the pursuit of perfection. The poem cleverly subverts the traditional fairy tale narrative, revealing the potential for even the most romantic quests to become soured by unrealistic expectations. By the end, the speaker's hatred of feet is a darkly humorous indictment of his own misguided priorities, suggesting that true love cannot be found through a superficial search for an idealized image. Instead, it highlights the importance of looking beyond superficial characteristics and embracing the complexities of real human connection. The beauty in the traditional fairy tale is lost in a sea of feet.